Worshipful Company of Loriners
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The Worshipful Company of Loriners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The organisation was originally a trade association for makers of metal parts for harnesses, bridles, spurs, and other horse apparel; hence the company's name, which comes from the Latin word lorum, through the French word lormier.
The company's original ordinances date from 1261, which predate those for any of the currently existing Livery Company, although the current ordinances were issued in 1741. It was incorporated by a Royal Charter in 1711, in the reign of Queen Anne. The Loriners' Company ranks fifty-seventh in the order of precedence for Livery Companies, granted on 15th July 1712. It is a reasonably large company; it is permitted (by the Court of Aldermen) a Livery of 500, and it currently has over 400 members (including Liverymen, Apprentices and Freemen).
In 1992 the Master of the company was HRH The Princess Royal.
The Company now cannot, as it formerly could, regulate Loriners. However, it does conduct an examination for students of the craft. Also, it acts as a charitable body.
Its coat of arms is azure on a chevron argent, between three manage bits or, as many bosses stables, supported asymmetrically by a single horse, between foliage of palm and of juniper.